Heart, brain and body at war...iin?

I'm not usually much of a feeler, but lately I've been plagued with such emotions as hope, love, doubt, fear, anxiety - the whole mix. I started to fall for this certain guy over the course of about 7 months.

A friendship built and I could tell he was interested pretty early on, though it took me a bit longer. Before this, I was a happy, single woman. I hadn't had a guy on my mind in at least a year, not romantically, and I was quite happy with the opportunity to just focus on me and better myself and my family. And then in he crept, honest and open, sharing some of my passions and captivating me with his righteous opinions and seemingly pure (or at least honest) intentions. At times it seemed he was reading my mind...at times I tend to read into things too much. And the whole time it seemed I could feel that we were feeling the same thing - that it could never work out.

We finally spent some time together and everything is out in the open now, yet we have both continued to give off mixed signals to one another. And then there's his past; a significant aspect of which he did reveal to me from the very beginning, though not all the details at once (rightfully so). But it's something that I just cannot overlook, by no simple means. He knows this, understands my issue with it and does not push anything upon me.

Rationally, this revelation should be enough of a red flag to send me fast away and he would completly understand, I'm sure. But something deep within me has been drawing me toward him this whole time and something has been telling me to trust him (to an extent) without any great logic to it other than a great connection. I didn't even dream last night so much as I just thought, wondered and worried throughout the sleep cycles. I haven't reckoned with myself so much since a previous situation that involves a common aspect to this man's past situation. We both were seeking a friend, asked God for a friend and connected by chance, but there is this huge barrier between us. It would make more sense if it was all just an act and he is experienced with the right words to say and subtle gestures. Maybe he is just a master manipulator because...what the actual fuck! Sure, we get along great, but will I always be concerned about his questionable past? What kind of lesson is this?

So we decided to just be friends and to perhaps have a sexual relationship eventually... And I think I'm quite fine with that. Honestly, I'm just as afraid of me hurting him as I am of him hurting me. That seems to be as far as it could ever go without complicating things. Hell, I wouldn't be prepared to commit at this point even without the complications anyway. I just wish I could breathe without the fear of what may have happened in the past or what the future could bring.

I'm not even sure what I'm asking anymore but I guess if you're still reading this, the question, to put it simply, is:

Is it normal to follow your intuition as opposed to rational, safe choices?